Indoor cycle linked with game content

ABSTRACT

An indoor cycle linked to game content is proposed. More particularly, the indoor cycle includes an exercise equipment unit including a drum, pedals connected to the drum and provided with a built-in wireless pedaling sensor, a saddle provided above the drum, and handles connected to one side of the drum, a processor built into the exercise equipment unit to obtain sensor values from the wireless pedaling sensor, and configured to select a character from the game content to perform an operation of the selected character on the basis of the sensor values obtained from the wireless pedaling sensor, a controller provided in the handles and linked with the processor, so as to operate the character, and a display provided between the handles and linked with the processor, so as to display images of the game content.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0099821, filed Jul. 29, 2021, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an indoor cycle linked with game content and, more particularly, to an indoor cycle linked with game content, wherein the indoor cycle is provided with the game content and capable of operating the game content by a controller, so that a user can perform home training while taking pleasure in games.

Description of the Related Art

Recently, modern people are exposed to various diseases due to the absolute lack of exercise and irregular diet along with excessive stress, and accordingly, as interest in health increases, various exercise equipment that may be used indoors are on the market.

Examples of such indoor exercise equipment include various types of fitness equipment and the like including treadmills, indoor cycles, and rowing machines, but most of such indoor exercise equipment are not only limited by a space occupied, but also difficult to move and store, and are specifically designed for specific exercise effects, and thus there are insufficient points to keep users interested.

For example, in a case of a treadmill, a user is supposed to run bored while looking at a wall or a mirror, and in a case of an indoor cycle, the user is supposed to step on pedals while looking at a wall or a mirror, so the user should continuously repeat monotonous motion to obtain the exercise effects, so there is a disadvantage that as interest is halved, it is difficult to continue exercising, and specifically, there is a disadvantage of limitations to generate the interest and attention of consumers as the types of exercises are limited to sport events that repeat the monotonous motion.

In order to solve such disadvantages, there is proposed a system provided with a display installed therein to output sounds and images in front of a treadmill or an indoor cycle, and additionally provided with an audiovisual device with which users experience as if they were actually running or driving, but in such a system, the users simply rely on the visual and auditory senses without actually experiencing the behavior changes according to a real driving course, whereby there is a disadvantage of limitations to sustain the exercise effects and the users' interest.

In addition, when a user runs on a treadmill, the user may experience an uphill road, a downhill road, or a curved road expressed as scenes on a screen constituting the audiovisual system, but there is no actual change in motion that may be felt by the user, and thus as a result, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to expect an increase in the exercise effects by means of the audiovisual system.

Documents of Related Art

[Patent Document]

-   (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent No. 10-1900344

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure has been devised in view of the above problems, and an objective of the present disclosure is to provide an indoor cycle linked with game content, wherein the indoor cycle is provided with the game content and capable of operating the game content by a controller, so that a user can perform home training while taking pleasure in games.

Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide an indoor cycle linked with game content, wherein the indoor cycle is provided with a heart rate measurement unit on one side of a handle to measure a heart rate of a user who performs home training, so as to measure the heart rate of the user in real time.

The objectives of an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned objectives, and other different objectives not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

According to features for achieving the objectives as described above, the present disclosure provides an indoor cycle linked to game content, the indoor cycle including: an exercise equipment unit comprising a drum, pedals connected to the drum and provided with a built-in wireless pedaling sensor, a saddle provided above the drum, and handles connected to one side of the drum; a processor built into the exercise equipment unit to obtain sensor values from the wireless pedaling sensor, and configured to select a character from the game content to perform an operation of the selected character on the basis of the sensor values obtained from the wireless pedaling sensor; a controller provided in the handles and linked with the processor, so as to operate the character; and a display provided between the handles and linked with the processor, so as to display images of the game content.

In addition, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the handles may be divided into a first handle provided on one side thereof and a second handle provided on the other side thereof.

In addition, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller may include: a joystick provided on the first handle and for controlling directions of the character; and an operation button provided on the second handle and for operating actions of the character.

In addition, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the indoor cycle may further include a heart rate measurement unit provided on one side of the handles and configured to measure a heart rate of a user.

In addition, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the display may be linked with the processor through wired/wireless communication, and display the images of the game content through a mobile device carried by the user.

In addition, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the display may be fixed to a stand provided between the handles.

In addition, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an exercise intensity adjustment unit linked with the processor and configured to adjust rotational strength of the pedals may be provided at one side of the drum.

According to the indoor cycle linked with the game content of the present disclosure, the indoor cycle is provided with game content and capable of operating the game content by the controller, whereby the user can perform the home training while taking pleasure in games.

In addition, the heart rate measurement unit for measuring a heart rate of the user who performs the home training is provided on one side of the handle, thereby having an effect of measuring the user's heart rate in real time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an indoor cycle linked with game content according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a controller of the indoor cycle linked with the game content according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a heart rate measurement unit of the indoor cycle linked with the game content according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the indoor cycle linked with the game content according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exercise equipment unit according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a processor according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the indoor cycle linked with the game content according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the objectives, other objectives, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily understood through the following preferred exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms.

Rather, the exemplary embodiments introduced herein are provided so that the disclosed subject matter may be thorough and complete, and that the spirit of the present disclosure may be sufficiently conveyed to those skilled in the art.

The exemplary embodiments described and illustrated herein also include complementary exemplary embodiments thereof.

In this specification, the singular form also includes the plural form unless otherwise specified in the phrase. As used herein, “comprises” and/or “comprising” does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components in addition to the mentioned components.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In describing the specific exemplary embodiments below, various characteristic contents have been prepared to more specifically explain the disclosure and help understanding. However, a reader having enough knowledge in this field to understand the present disclosure may recognize that the present disclosure may be used without these various specific details. In some cases, it is mentioned in advance that in describing the present disclosure, parts that are commonly known and not largely related to the present disclosure are not described in order to avoid confusion in explaining the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an indoor cycle linked with game content according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a controller of the indoor cycle linked with the game content according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a heart rate measurement unit of the indoor cycle linked with the game content according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the indoor cycle linked with the game content according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exercise equipment unit according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a processor according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the indoor cycle linked with the game content according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 , the indoor cycle linked with the game content of the present disclosure is largely configured to include an exercise equipment unit 100, a processor 200, a controller 300, and a display 400.

More specifically, the indoor cycle linked with the game content is configured to include: an exercise equipment unit 100 including a drum D, pedals 110 connected to the drum D and provided with a built-in wireless pedaling sensor, a saddle 120 provided above the drum D, and handles 130 connected to one side of the drum D; a processor 200 built into the exercise equipment unit 100 and configured to obtain sensor values from the wireless pedaling sensor, select a character from the game content, and operate the selected character on the basis of the sensor values obtained from the wireless pedaling sensor; a controller 300 provided in the respective handles 130 and linked with the processor 200, so as to operate the character; and a display 400 provided between the handles 130 and linked with the processor 200 to display images of the game content.

First, the exercise equipment unit 100 is well-known exercise equipment provided in an indoor space, and is configured for a user to conduct simple home training through the indoor cycle.

Such an exercise equipment unit 100 is configured to include the drum D, the pedals 110, the saddle 120, and the handles 130.

The drum D may further include an exercise intensity adjustment unit 170 linked with the processor 200 and the display 400 through wired/wireless communication, and configured to adjust rotational strength of the pedals 110 to be described below by using the magnetic force of magnets and display the rotational strength.

The exercise intensity adjustment unit 170 may be controlled to manually or automatically adjust the rotational strength, that is, the magnetic force of the magnets of the pedals 110 connected to a wheel provided the interior of the drum D, thereby adjusting an exercise intensity (i.e., power, Watt) for each load of the pedals 110 (e.g., step-by-step loads of first to tenth gear). Here, the exercise intensity adjustment unit 170 may further include an exercise intensity measurement unit 180 configured to measure changes in the exercise intensity.

The exercise intensity measurement unit 180 is linked with the processor 200, and measures the exercise intensity of the exercise intensity adjustment unit 170 in real time to be able to display the exercise intensity on the display 400 or a mobile device 420.

A built-in wireless pedaling sensor is configured to be provided in the pedals 110.

Such pedals 110 are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the exercise equipment unit 100, and the sensor values of pedal force obtained from the wireless pedaling sensor according to the motion of the pedals 110 are input to the processor 200.

The saddle 120 is a means for a user to be seated and stably operate an indoor cycle, and has a configuration in which a height thereof is easily adjustable through an overlapping method of a frame to fit a user's body type.

The handles 130 are means for stably operating the indoor cycle by applying a pedal force to the pedals 110 in a stable posture in which a user is holding the handles with his/her hands, and has the configuration in which the heights thereof are easily adjustable through the overlapping method of the frame to fit the user's body type.

In addition, the handles 130 are divided into a first handle 140 provided on one side thereof, and a second handle 150 provided on the other side thereof.

That is, after gripping the first handle 140 and the second handle 150, the user may operate the indoor cycle.

The controller 300 to be described below is provided for the first handle 140 and the second handle 150, so as to operate directions and behaviors of a character.

In addition, one side of the handles 130 may further include a heart rate measurement unit 160 for measuring a user's heart rate.

Since the heart rate measurement unit 160 is implemented to be provided on the one side of the handles 130, when a user grips the handles 130 to enjoy the game content, the user involuntarily grips the heart rate measurement unit 160.

That is, as the user applies the pedal force to the pedals 110, the user's heart rate is automatically measured through a heart rate monitoring sensor in contact with one of palms of the user holding the handles 130.

Since such a heart rate measurement unit 160 may be linked with the processor 200 and the display 400 through the wired/wireless communication, the user's heart rate collected by the heart rate measurement unit 160 may be displayed on the display 400 in real time, the processor 200 may suggest a difficulty level of game content suitable for the user's heart rate on the basis of the user's heart rate collected by the heart rate measurement unit 160, and the user may select the difficulty level of the proposed game content to conduct customized home training.

Here, the processor 200 may be controlled to adjust automatically the strength of the rotational strength of the exercise intensity adjustment unit 170, i.e., the magnetic force of magnets, on the basis of the user's heart rate measured by the heart rate measurement unit 160, and in this way, the rotational strength of the pedals 110 may be adjusted automatically.

For example, when a heart rate is high, the processor 200 determines that the user's exercise amount is large and automatically controls the exercise intensity adjustment unit 170 to adjust the rotational strength of the pedals 110 to be weak, and thus the amount of exercise of the user, that is, a set target calorie may be adjusted to be achievable.

In this case, the processor 200 may change the game content in use to game content in an easy environment (i.e., in the case of a cycle, a slope in use may be changed into a downhill slope), so that an environment in which a user is operating the cycle as if the user were riding a real cycle in the virtual world as well may be implementable.

On the contrary, when the heart rate is stable, the processor 200 determines that the user's exercise amount is small and automatically controls the exercise intensity adjustment unit 170 to adjust the rotational strength of the pedals 110 to be strong, so that the amount of exercise of the user, that is, the set target calorie may be adjusted to be achievable.

In this case, the processor 200 may change the game content in use to game content in a difficult environment (i.e., in the case of the cycle, the slope in use is changed into an uphill slope), so that the environment in which the user is operating the cycle as if the user were riding the real cycle in the virtual world as well may be implementable.

Here, the heart rate measurement sensor may be at least one of an optical sensor, an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor, and a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor.

When the heart rate measurement sensor is implemented as the optical sensor, the heart rate measurement sensor may be configured to include a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit.

The light emitting unit may be at least one of an Infrared (IR) LED, a Red LED, a Green LED, and a Blue LED, and the light receiving unit may be a photodiode. When the heart rate measurement unit 160 is gripped by a user's palm, the light emitting unit of the heart rate measurement sensor may output light to the user's palm, and the light receiving unit may detect that the light output from the light emitting unit is reflected back from the user's palm.

For example, in order to determine the amount of change in a user's blood flow, the light may be allowed to be incident deeper than the user's skin (e.g., the blood vessels), and then be reflected back out. The heart rate measurement sensor may quantify the amounts of light detected by the light receiving unit and sequentially arrange the qualified amounts to generate signals. The heart rate measurement sensor may transmit the generated signals to the processor 200 or the display 400.

In addition, a PPG sensor may use a principle that the degree of light absorption and reflection that is changed depending on changes in the thickness of a blood vessel according to heartbeats.

When the heart rate measurement sensor is implemented by using a PPG sensor, the heart rate measurement sensor may include a light emitting unit that emits infrared rays and a light receiving unit that detects light illuminating a user's palm from the light emitting unit and reflected from the user's palm. The heart rate measurement sensor may detect photoplethysmography (PPG) signals from changes in blood flow rates in photoplethysmography according to time detected by the light receiving unit.

That is, the heart rate measurement sensor may measure a heart rate by scanning a frequency corresponding to the heart rate from the generated signals to intuitively show a heartbeat state to a user.

The processor 200 is configured to be built into the exercise equipment unit 100, obtain sensor values from the wireless pedaling sensor, select a character from game content, and perform operation on the selected character on the basis of the sensor values obtained from the wireless pedaling sensor.

Such a processor 200 may include one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor (AP), or a communication processor (CP).

Here, the processor 200 may execute operations or data processing, which is related to control and communication of at least one or more different components of the exercise equipment unit 100.

Meanwhile, the processor 200 may further include a memory 210.

The memory 210 may include volatile and non-volatile memory. The memory 210 may store, for example, instructions or data related to at least one or more different components of the exercise equipment unit 100.

In addition, the memory 210 may store software and a program 220 related to game content.

In addition, the processor 200 may be linked with the controller 300 to be described below to define the user's operation on a character of the selected game content.

Here, in the operation on the character, the user may perform actions of the character attacking or avoiding obstacles in the game content by operating the movement directions of the character and the behaviors of the character.

In addition, the user may enjoy game content alone by means of the processor 200 implemented not to be connected to a network, and also match with various users and enjoy a variety of game content in a virtual world by means of the processor 200 implemented to be connected to a server of Metaverse that provides the variety of game content in a virtual space through the network and the wired/wireless communication.

In addition, the processor 200 may estimate torque according to the number of rotations of the pedals 110 by using step-by-step load values measured by the exercise intensity measurement unit 180 and through a linear regression analysis.

In such a torque estimation method according to the number of rotations of the pedals 110, after reference torque is measured through a separately provided power meter, a fitting function for inputting the number of rotations is calculated as an approximate value through the linear regression analysis, and then the torque suitable for an exercise intensity (i.e., each level of pedaling) set by a user may be estimated.

In this way, without buying the expensive power meter, a user may estimate his or her exercise ability by estimating the torque suitable for the exercise intensity (i.e., each level of pedaling) while the exercise ability of the user is displayed on the display 400, and may select the game content to match the his or her exercise ability by means of the processor 200 recommending the game content suitable for the user's exercise ability.

The controller 300 is provided in the handles 130, and is configured to operate a character in conjunction with the processor 200.

Such controller 300 is configured to include: a joystick 141 provided on a first handle 140 and for controlling directions of a character; and an operation button 151 provided on a second handle 150 and for operating actions of the character.

The joystick 141 may select either an analog method or a digital method, and movement directions of a character may be operated through the joystick 141.

The operation button 151 may select either an analog method or a digital method, and may operate actions of a character (i.e., jumping action, tilting the body, throwing an obstacle, etc.) through the operation button 151.

Here, the controller 300 is further provided with trigger buttons (not shown) respectively provided on the first handle 140 and the second handle 150.

The trigger buttons (not shown) may notify a user of the start and end of game content, events, and the like by implementing various vibration patterns, or notify the user by implementing various sound patterns.

The display 400 is provided between the handles 130, that is, between the first handle 140 and the second handle 150, and is linked with the processor 200 to display images of game content.

Such a display 400 may be linked with the processor 200 and display the images (i.e., text, images, videos, icons, symbols, etc.) of the game content, or may be linked with the processor 200 through the wired/wireless communication and display the images of the game content through a mobile device 420 carried by a user.

Here, the display 400 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, or a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) display, or an electronic paper display.

In addition, the display 400 may include a touch screen, and for example, may receive inputs of a touch, a gesture, proximity, or hovering, which use an electronic pen or a part of the user's body.

In addition, the display 400 may be fixed to the stand 410 provided between the first handle 140 and the second handle 150.

Such a stand 410 may be separately provided in a movable type, be moved to a desired position by a user to be seated, and then be implemented to mount the display 400 on the seated stand 410.

Meanwhile, the display 400 may be linked with the processor 200 through the wired/wireless communication, and display the images of the game content through the mobile device 420 carried by the user.

In this case, the processor 200 and the mobile device 420 may communicate with each other wirelessly or by wire through a communication unit 500 built-in or external to the exercise equipment unit 100.

Such a communication unit 500 may include one or more communication modules capable of connecting to a wireless communication network, and the communication unit 500 may include a wireless communication or short-range communication module, a location information module, or the like.

For example, the wireless communication module refers to a module for wireless Internet connection, and the wireless Internet module may be built-in or externally installed in the exercise equipment unit 100.

Wireless communication may include cellular communication using at least one of LTE, LTE advance (LTE-A), Code division multiple access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), Universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), Wireless broadband (WiBro), Global system for mobile communications (GSM), or the like.

In addition, wireless communication may include at least one of Wireless fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy (BLE), Zigbee, Near field communication (NFC), Magnetic secure transmission, Radio frequency (RF), or Body area network (BAN).

In addition, the wireless communication may include GNSS. The GNSS may be, for example, Global positioning system (GPS), Global navigation satellite system (Glonass), Beidou navigation satellite system (hereinafter “Beidou”), or Galileo, i.e., the European global satellite-based navigation system.

Wired communication may include at least one of Universal serial bus (USB), High definition multimedia interface (HDMI), Recommended standard232 (RS-232), Power line communication, plain old telephone service (POTS), or the like.

Through such a communication unit 500, when the processor 200 transmits/receives data to and from the display 400 or the mobile device 420 by the wired/wireless communication, or when the data acquired by the heart rate measurement unit 160, the exercise intensity adjustment unit 170, and the exercise intensity measurement unit 180 is transmitted/received to and from the display 400 or the mobile device 420 by the wired/wireless communication, encryption suitable for the wired/wireless communication may be used in order to secure the data safely.

More preferably, the encryption uses a lightweight hash function suitable for such an embedded computing environment.

The lightweight hash function is a hash function (i.e., one-way function) that consumes relatively low computing power of a computer designed to ensure the integrity of transmitted or received data, except for characteristics that require high computing power in a standard cryptographic hash algorithm such as SHA-3.

More specifically, it is preferable to use a sponge algorithm that enables unkeyed permutation of data among such lightweight hash functions.

More specifically, the sponge algorithm is implemented in such a method in which after a step of padding that makes a certain size of an original message (here, original data of a random key) is performed, the sponge algorithm divides the original message into a plurality of original messages having a specific reference size (e.g., the original message divided into a specific bit size) that only a creator of the key may know, and then exchanges random data at the rear end of the plurality of divided data (i.e., the divided original message) by using several update functions, and thus a counterpart on the other side decodes the original data by using a known reference size.

That is, the use of such a lightweight hash function ensures the security of the hash function, while requiring relatively less computing power than that of a generally used hash function, thereby resulting in reduced power consumption and providing long-term use.

Therefore, according to the indoor cycle linked with the game content of the present disclosure, the indoor cycle is provided with game content and capable of operating the game content by the controller, so that the user performs the home training while taking pleasure in games.

In addition, the heart rate measurement unit for measuring the heart rate of the user who performs the home training is provided on one side of a handle, thereby having an effect of measuring the user's heart rate in real time.

The exemplary embodiments described in the present specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only the most preferred exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and do not represent all the technical ideas of the present disclosure, and accordingly, it should be appreciated that there may be equivalents and modifications at the time when the present application is filed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An indoor cycle linked to game content, the indoor cycle comprising: an exercise equipment unit comprising a drum, pedals connected to the drum and provided with a built-in wireless pedaling sensor, a saddle provided above the drum, and handles connected to one side of the drum; a processor built into the exercise equipment unit to obtain sensor values from the wireless pedaling sensor, and configured to select a character from the game content to perform an operation of the selected character on the basis of the sensor values obtained from the wireless pedaling sensor; a controller provided in the handles and linked with the processor, so as to operate the character; and a display provided between the handles and linked with the processor, so as to display images of the game content, a heart rate measurement unit provided on one side of the handles and configured to measure a heart rate of a user, wherein an exercise intensity adjustment unit linked with the processor and configured to adjust rotational strength of the pedals is provided at one side of the drum, wherein the exercise intensity adjustment unit includes an exercise intensity measurement unit configured to measure changes in the exercise intensity, wherein the processor estimates torque according to a number of rotations of the pedals by using step-by-step load values measured by the exercise intensity measurement unit and through a linear regression analysis, wherein in the torque estimation method according to the number of rotations of the pedals, after reference torque is measured through a separately provided power meter, a fitting function for inputting the number of rotations is calculated as an approximate value through the linear regression analysis, and then the torque suitable for an exercise intensity set by a user may be estimated, wherein the display is linked with the processor through wired/wireless communication, and displays the images of the game content through a mobile device carried by the user, wherein the processor and the mobile device communicate with each other wirelessly or by wire through a communication unit built-in or external to the exercise equipment unit, and wherein the communication unit uses a lightweight hash function when the processor transmits/receives data to and from the display or the mobile device by the wired/wireless communication, or when the data acquired by the heart rate measurement unit, the exercise intensity adjustment unit, and the exercise intensity measurement unit is transmitted/received to and from the display or the mobile device by the wired/wireless communication.
 2. The indoor cycle of claim 1, wherein the handles are divided into a first handle provided on one side thereof and a second handle provided on the other side thereof.
 3. The indoor cycle of claim 2, wherein the controller comprises: a joystick provided on the first handle and for controlling directions of the character; and an operation button provided on the second handle and for operating actions of the character.
 4. The indoor cycle of claim 1, wherein the display is fixed to a stand provided between the handles. 